Oven Baked Spaghetti

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 Inspired by oven-baked spaghetti, this Mediterranean Spaghetti is bursting with briny olives and artichokes, warm spices, and just a hint of tang. Baked in under an hour with minimal prep work and easy cleanup, it’s guaranteed to become your new go-to recipe! 

What Is Mediterranean Spaghetti? 

Inspired by the flavors of our childhood, Mediterranean spaghetti is a fun twist on classic American baked spaghetti recipes. Sticking with traditional marinara and spaghetti noodles, we spruced up this dish with the addition of veggies and produce for extra texture, flavor, and color! The end result is a vibrant comfort food you can feel good about serving. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

We love pasta recipes in all their shapes and sizes. However, meals don’t get much better than this Mediterranean spaghetti! It: 
  • Bakes in a single dish with no boiling required. 
  • Uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. 
  • Is naturally vegetarian and nut-free and can easily be modified to fit a variety of dietary needs. 
  • Makes up to 8 servings in a single batch, making it perfect for even the hungriest of crowds.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This vegetarian dish is full of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber to keep you satisfied and full! Here’s everything you’ll need: 

  • Pasta – Use any kind of raw spaghetti noodles you like best. 
  • Sauce – To save time, we use a store-bought marinara sauce. However, if you’re feeling up to it, you could also make your own! 
  • Vegetables – Baby tomatoes, artichoke hearts, garlic, and red onions combine not only to create a pretty appearance but also to provide a tangy, savory, and vibrant flavor. 
  • Olives – Kalamata and green olives combine to add a pop of texture, a briny, salty flavor, and satiating fats. 
  • Seasonings – Oregano or Italian seasoning (depending on how strong your marinara sauce is), salt, and pepper are all you need to enhance the savory flavors of the rest of the dish. 
  • Olive Oil – This simply helps combine the ingredients and prevents the pasta from clumping together. 

How to Make Oven Baked Mediterranean Spaghetti 

If you’ve never made oven baked spaghetti or pasta of any kind, prepare for your world to be changed! One bite, and you’ll never go back to standing over the stove waiting for water to boil again. 
  1. Combine. Add all the ingredients to a large baking dish, and toss to combine. 
  2. Bake. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, and bake for about 20 minutes. Then, remove the dish from the oven, stir the ingredients, and cover it back up. Continue to bake until the spaghetti is al dente. 
  3. Garnish. Sprinkle feta cheese on top along with a sprinkle of parsley, and serve warm! 

Variations

This Mediterranean spaghetti is proof that recipes don’t have to have a million expensive ingredients or complicated steps to be delicious, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up! For example, some of our favorite variations are as follows. 
  1. Add Protein. To make this recipe even more filling try mixing in protein options like sautéed shrimp, tuna, salmon, chicken, or even Italian sausage! 
  2. Make It Gluten-Free. Swap out the regular spaghetti with your favorite gluten-free variety. 
  3. Need a Vegan Option? Simply omit the garnish of feta cheese. 
  4. Spice It Up. Add a dash of red pepper flakes into the mix for a hint of extra heat. 

Ingredients  

  • 16 ounces spaghetti noodles uncooked
  • 16 ounces marinara sauce
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup baby tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup artichoke hearts
  • 3/4 cup kalamata olives
  • 1/2 cup green olives
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper more or less to taste
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Optional: feta cheese and parsley for garnish

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375° F.
  • In a large baking dish, add all the ingredients, stirring to combine.
  • Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Stir the ingredients, cover, and continue to bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
  • Top with feta cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

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